Beverage container closure

ABSTRACT

A beverage container closure or lid that is adapted for closing an open end of a beverage container. The lid is selectively couplable to the beverage container and includes a selectively openable stopper that when closed, creates a fluid-tight seal between the beverage container and the environment. The stopper may be selectively opened by a user by the user pressing a button disposed on a side of the beverage container closure. The stopper is subsequently automatically closed when the user releases the button. Thus, a user may open and close the beverage container closure using a single hand without the need to remove the beverage container closure from the beverage container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed generally to lids for liquid storagevessels such as for beverage or food containers and more particularly tolids with movable components.

2. Description of the Related Art

Prior art lids are typically of one of three types. The first type is asolid unitary lid that does not include openings or apertures throughwhich the contents of a liquid storage vessel may exit the vessel. Todrink from the vessel, a user must remove the lid. The second type,which may also be of a unitary construction, includes one or moreunobstructed apertures through which the liquid may exit the vessel. Inthe second type, the apertures are always open. If the vessel isinadvertently tipped or dropped, the contents of the vessel may spill.The third type of lid includes one or more apertures through which theliquid may exit the vessel and a means for selectively opening andclosing the apertures. When using the third type of lid, the user mayselectively open the apertures to remove the contents from the vesseland selectively close the apertures to maintain the contents inside thevessel. Further, by closing the apertures, the lid may help insulate thecontents from the environment outside the vessel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top left side perspective view of a beverage containerclosure constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the beverage container closure ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the beverage container closureof FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of the beverage containerclosure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the beverage container closure ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the beverage container closure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the beverage container closure of FIG.1.

FIG. 8 is a top left side perspective view of the beverage containerclosure of FIG. 1, with a dust cover rotated away from the opening inthe beverage container closure to provide a user with access to theopening.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the beverage container closure of FIG. 8,with the dust cover rotated away from the opening in the beveragecontainer.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional left side elevational view of the beveragecontainer closure of FIG. 1 with a stopper of the beverage containerclosure in the closed position.

FIG. 11A is a top plan view of the beverage container closure of FIG. 1with the dust cover removed.

FIG. 11B is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 11B-11Bof FIG. 11A with the stopper in the closed position.

FIG. 12A is a top plan view of the beverage container closure of FIG. 1with the dust cover removed.

FIG. 12B is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 12B-12Bof FIG. 12A with the stopper in the opened position.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a stopper assembly of thebeverage container closure of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A beverage container closure or lid, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10 inFIG. 1. The lid 10 has a generally cylindrical main body 12 that isadapted for closing an open end of a conventional drinking vessel orbeverage container 8 (shown in dashed lines). The beverage container 8may be any suitable type of container such as the tumbler type (that is,without a handle) for use in automotive beverage receptacles, or fortransport in backpacks, book bags, and the like. The lid 10 isselectively couplable to the beverage container 8 by any suitable meanssuch as threads 54 disposed on an outer surface of a sidewall 52 of alower, downwardly depending portion 50 of the main body 12. The lid 10also includes a flexible o-ring seal member 56 (see FIG. 2) positionedadjacent the sidewall 52 of the lower portion 50 at a location near abottom surface of an upper portion 14 of the main body 12. Theparticular configuration for mating the lid 10 to the container 8 is amatter of choice for one of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, althoughthreads 54 and the seal member 56 have been shown in this embodiment,those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any other meansfor attaching and sealing the lid 10 with respect to the beveragecontainer 8 may be substituted.

As best seen in FIG. 8, the upper portion 14 of the main body 12 alsoincludes a top rim portion 70 configured for contact with a user's lipswhen the entire assembly is tipped toward the user, such that the usermay drink from the beverage container 8 to which the lid 10 is attached.The upper portion 14 also includes an aperture or opening 64 configuredto permit fluid passage therethrough when a user drinks a beverage. Theupper portion further includes an air vent 65 (see FIG. 11A) that allowsliquid to flow more freely out of the beverage container 8 when a userdrinks therefrom.

Fluid communication between the upper portion 14 and the interior of thebeverage container 8 is controlled by way of a selectively openablestopper assembly 100, which may best be viewed in FIG. 13. The stopperassembly 100 includes a stopper 110 having a first raised portion 112configured for attachment of a stopper seal 102 thereto (e.g., by apress fit). The stopper seal 102 may be formed from a flexible materialand is shaped to be positioned over a top surface 114 (see FIG. 10) ofthe first raised portion 112. The stopper 110 also includes a secondraised portion 113 configured for attachment of a vent seal 117 thereto(e.g., by a press fit). Below the raised portions 112 and 113 of thestopper 110 is an angled base or body portion 115. Further, extending ina downward direction from the body portion 115 of the stopper 110 is acircumferential sidewall 118 that includes a circumferential groove 120(see FIG. 10) disposed on its inner surface. As discussed in furtherdetail below, the sidewall 118 and the groove 120 are configured toengage a ridge 172 of a stopper cap 170 via a press fit.

The stopper 110 also comprises an upwardly extending cylindrical wall111 (see FIGS. 10 and 13) sized to be slightly larger than a downwardlyextending cylindrical wall 13 of the upper portion 14 of the main body12, such that the walls 13 and 111 may move axially freely intelescoping fashion with respect to each other when the lid 10 isoperated by a user as described below. The stopper 110 also includes apair of spaced apart cam follower surfaces 119A and 119B (or “camfollowers”) disposed on the base portion 115 of the stopper on opposingsides of the upwardly extending cylindrical wall 111. The functionalityof the cam followers 119A and 119B are described herein below.

As may best be viewed in FIG. 10, the stopper cap 170 includes acircumferential ridge 172 for engagement (e.g., a snap fit) with thegroove 120 of the stopper 110. The stopper cap 170 further includes anopening defined by an annular-shaped edge 176, and a bottom surface 174.These features are described below. When the stopper cap 170 is coupledto the stopper 110, an interior hollow region 123 is formed. To provideinsulation between the interior of the beverage container 8 and theenvironment, an insulating substance, such as a ring of styrene, may beplaced within the interior hollow region 123 of the stopper 110.

The stopper assembly 100 also includes a stopper cover 150 (see FIG. 10)configured for retaining the stopper assembly within a hollow interiorregion 36 of the main body 12. The stopper cover 150 includes a baseportion 152 including a plurality of spaced apart apertures or openings156 disposed therein to allow for fluid passage therethrough. Further,the stopper cover 150 comprises an upwardly extending substantiallycylindrically-shaped rod 161 terminating with an engagement portion 162with external threads. As shown, the rod 161 passes through the openingdefined by the annular-shaped edge 176 in the stopper cap 170, andthrough a downwardly extending cylindrical wall 121 of the stopper 110,where it is threadably engaged with a stopper cover engagement portion22 (with internal threads) of the downwardly extending cylindrical wall13 of the upper portion 14 of the main body 12, thereby securing thestopper cover 150 (and the other components of the stopper assembly 100)to the main body 12 of the lid 10.

As may best be viewed in FIG. 10, the stopper assembly 100 furtherincludes a stopper biasing member (in the illustrated embodiment, aspring) 144 configured for biasing the stopper 110 into the closedposition which provides a fluid-tight seal for the lid 10. The stopperbiasing member 144 is sized to have a diameter that is slightly largerthan the upwardly extending substantially cylindrically-shaped rod 161of the stopper cover 150, such that the stopper biasing member may bepositioned over the rod 161 and between a top surface 155 of the baseportion 152 of the stopper cover 150 and an inner bottom surface 174 ofthe stopper cap 170 (see FIG. 10).

As may best be viewed in FIGS. 11B, 12B, and 13, the stopper assembly100 further includes an actuating member 130 configured for acting onthe cam followers 119A and 119B of the stopper 110 to selectively movethe stopper between the opened position and the closed position. Theactuating member 130 includes first and second cam surfaces 133A and133B (or “stopper engagement portions”) spaced apart from each other andconfigured for slidable engagement with the first and second camfollowers 119A and 119B (or “actuating member engagement portions”),respectively, of the stopper 110. The cam surfaces 133A and 133B areeach ramp-shaped and are angled downward from a distal end 134 toward aproximal end 132 of the actuating member 130 (see FIGS. 11B and 12B). Asdescribed below, the cam surfaces 133A and 133B engage the cam followersurfaces 119A and 119B, respectively, to move the stopper 110 betweenthe closed and opened positions (shown in FIGS. 11B and 12B,respectively). The actuating member 130 further includes a rod 140 (seeFIG. 13) disposed at the proximal end 132 sized and shaped to beinserted (e.g., press fit) into a recessed portion of a button 30 (seeFIGS. 10 and 13) configured to permit a user to actuate the actuatingmember 130 by simply pressing the button inward.

The operation of the stopper assembly 100 is now described withreference to FIGS. 11B and 12B, which show cut-away left sideelevational views of the lid 10 when the stopper 110 is in the sealed orclosed position (FIG. 11B) and the opened position (FIG. 12B). As can beseen, the stopper assembly 100 is positioned within the hollow interiorregion 36 of the main body 12. The engagement portion 162 of the stoppercover 150 is engaged with the stopper cover engagement portion 22 of thedownwardly extending cylindrical wall 13 of the upper portion 14disposed in the hollow interior region 36 of the main body 12. Forexample, the stopper cover 150 may be threadably engaged with the mainbody 12 to retain the stopper cover and the other components of thestopper assembly 100.

As shown in FIG. 11B, the stopper seal 102 is in contact with thestopper seal engagement portion 68 that defines the opening 64 of themain body 12. In this regard, when the stopper 100 is in the closedposition shown in FIG. 11B, the stopper seal 102 and the vent seal 117(see FIG. 10) are pressed against the stopper seal engagement portion 68and a vent seal engagement portion 69, respectively, of the main body 12by the biasing member 144 to provide a fluid-tight seal between thecontainer 8 to which the lid 10 is attached and the environment.

The actuating member 130 is situated such that the first and second camsurfaces 133A and 133B are aligned over and in contact with the firstand second cam followers 119A and 119B, respectively, of the stopper110. The proximal end 132 of the actuating member 130 is situated withinan opening in a rear portion 20 (see FIGS. 10 and 13) of the main body12 formed by a circumferential wall 26. In turn, the button 30 iscoupled to the actuating member 130 (e.g., by a press fit) to allow auser to actuate the actuating member by pressing inward on the button. Abutton biasing member (e.g., a spring) 32 is positioned over thecircumferential wall 26 in a space 34 between the wall 26 and asurrounding outer wall 24 forming a recess in the rear portion 20 of themain body 12. The button biasing member 32 is operative to bias thebutton 30 and the actuating member 130 coupled thereto to the outwardposition shown in FIG. 11B which corresponds to the closed position ofthe stopper 110 and tends to bias the actuating member 130 toward thatposition. Further, a button ring seal member 28 (see FIGS. 10 and 13)may be disposed around a forward stem portion of the button 30 andinward of the circumferential wall 26 to provide a fluid-tight sealtherebetween to prevent leakage to the environment.

In operation, a user may depress the button 30 which in turn causes theactuating member 130 to be displaced in an inward, substantiallyhorizontal direction (from the right to the left in the views shown inFIGS. 11B and 12B). As the actuating member 130 is displaced, the firstand second cam surfaces 133A and 133B of the actuating member 130slidably engage the first and second cam follower surfaces 119A and119B, respectively, of the stopper 110. Since the first and second camsurfaces 133A and 133B each slope downward from the distal end 134toward the proximal end 132 of the actuating member 130, the first andsecond cam follower surfaces 119A and 119B (and thus the stopper 110)are moved in a downward direction as the actuating member 130 isdisplaced inward, as shown in FIG. 12B. As can be appreciated, as thestopper 110 is moved in a downward direction, a gap 38 (see FIG. 12B) isformed between the stopper seal 102 and the stopper seal engagementportion 68 of the main body 12 such that fluid may pass through theopening 64. Further, a gap is also formed simultaneously between thevent seal 65 and the vent seal engagement portion 69 of the main body 12allowing air to pass through the vent opening 65 such that fluid maypass through the opening 64 more freely. It should be appreciated thatalthough in this embodiment the actuating member 130 includes the camsurfaces 133A and 133B and the stopper 110 includes the cam followers119A and 119B, in other embodiments the actuating member 130 may includeone or more cam followers and the stopper 110 may include one or morecorresponding cam surfaces.

The lid 10 also comprises a selectively rotatable, exterior dust cover180 engaged with the upper portion 14 of the main body 12 that isoperative to cover the openings 64 and 65 when a user is not using thelid (see FIG. 1). The dust cover 180 comprises a downwardly extendingbutton covering portion 182 (or “actuating member covering portion”).The button covering portion 182 extends over the button 30 to prohibitaccidental activation of the button 30 (and thus the actuating member130) when the lid is not in use and the dust cover is rotated intoposition to cover the openings 64 and 65 (see FIG. 5), during which timethe stopper 110 would be in the closed position shown in FIG. 11B. Thebutton covering portion 182 also includes a horizontal thin strip ortongue 184 (see FIG. 10) sized to slidably fit within a horizontalcorresponding groove 15 (see FIGS. 3 and 10) disposed on the perimeterof an outer surface of the upper portion 14 of the main body 12. Thus, auser may selectively rotate the dust cover 180 from a first positionwherein the dust cover covers the openings 64 and 65 and a portion ofthe button 30 (see FIGS. 1 and 5), to a second position shown in FIGS. 8and 9 wherein the dust cover does not cover the openings and the buttonso that the user may operate the lid 10 as described above to drink afluid housed in the container 8 to which the lid is attached.

As can be appreciated, the assembly described above may be disassembledby a user for cleaning if desired. As may best be viewed in FIGS. 10 and13, a user may simply unscrew the stopper cover 150 from the stoppercover engagement portion 22 of the main body 12, which will release thestopper 110 (and the stopper cap 170 connected thereto), the stoppercover 150, and the stopper biasing member 144 from the hollow interiorregion 36 of the main body. Once these components have been cleaned, theuser may then reassemble the lid 10 by first inserting the stopper 110back into the hollow interior region 36 of the main body 12. Then, theuser may position the stopper biasing member 144 over the rod 161 of thestopper cover 150, and threadably connect the engagement portion 162 ofthe stopper cover with the stopper cover engagement portion 22 of themain body 12, thereby securing the stopper 110 within the hollowinterior portion 36 of the main body.

Further, since both the actuating member 130 and the stopper 110 arebiased by the button biasing member 32 and the stopper biasing member144, respectively, the stopper 110 automatically returns to the sealedor closed position (shown in FIG. 11B) once the user removes pressurefrom the button 30. In this regard, the user may open and drink from thecontainer 8 shown in FIG. 1 to which the lid 10 is attached using onehand by simply pressing the button 30 inward with a finger whileconsuming a beverage and releasing the button thereafter toautomatically reseal the container. As can be appreciated, the abilityto open, drink from, and close a container using only one hand may bedesirable for various active users including bicyclists, hikers,drivers, and the like.

The foregoing described embodiments depict different componentscontained within, or connected with, different other components. It isto be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary,and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented whichachieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangementof components to achieve the same functionality is effectively“associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, anytwo components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality canbe seen as “associated with” each other such that the desiredfunctionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedialcomponents. Likewise, any two components so associated can also beviewed as being “operably connected”, or “operably coupled”, to eachother to achieve the desired functionality.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that,based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from this invention and its broader aspects and,therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope allsuch changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scopeof this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that theinvention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will beunderstood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein,and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appendedclaims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.).

It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specificnumber of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intentwill be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of suchrecitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations).

Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appendedclaims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A lid for use with a drinking vesselcontaining a liquid, comprising: a main body selectively couplable tothe drinking vessel, the main body including an upper portion having anopening configured to permit fluid passage therethrough when the lid iscoupled to the drinking vessel; a stopper coupled to the main body forlinear upward and downward operational movement and configured forlinear upward displacement into a closed position wherein the stopperengages a portion of the main body and covers the opening to preventfluid passage therethrough, and linear downward displacement into anopened position wherein the stopper is spaced apart from the portion ofthe main body to allow fluid passage through the opening, withoutrotational operational movement of the stopper, the stopper having afirst cam follower; an actuating member movably coupled to the main bodyand slidably engaged with the stopper, the actuating member beingmovable inward and outward, and having a first cam surface arranged todirectly engage the first cam follower of the stopper and apply adownwardly directed operating force to the first cam follower of thestopper, without any intermediate force transmitting member or producingrotational movement of the stopper, during inward movement of theactuating member to cause the first cam surface to move the first camfollower downward and thereby linearly move the stopper to the openedposition, and being positioned such that during outward movement of theactuating member the first cam surface permits the first cam follower tomove linearly upward which moves the stopper to the closed position; anda dust cover movably coupled to the upper portion of the main body andselectively rotatable between a first position wherein the dust cover isdisposed over the opening of the main body, and a second positionwherein the dust cover is disposed over the main body at a position awayfrom the opening, the dust cover comprising a tongue configured to fitwithin a corresponding perimeter groove disposed on an outer surface ofthe upper portion of the main body.
 2. The lid of claim 1, furthercomprising: a stopper biasing member coupled to the stopper andconfigured to bias the stopper into the closed position in response tooutward movement of the actuating member.
 3. The lid of claim 2, whereinthe stopper biasing member comprises a spring.
 4. The lid of claim 1,further comprising: a button disposed on a sidewall portion of the mainbody, the button being coupled to the actuating member such thatpressing on the button moves the actuating member inward.
 5. The lid ofclaim 4, wherein the button is coupled to the actuating member such thatpressing inward on the button moves the actuating member inward.
 6. Thelid of claim 1, wherein the dust cover comprises an actuating membercovering portion configured to block access to the actuating member andprohibit accidental activation of the actuating member when the dustcover is in the first position.
 7. The lid of claim 1, furthercomprising: a stopper biasing member coupled to the stopper andconfigured to bias the stopper upward into the closed position inresponse to outward movement of the actuating member; and an actuatingmember biasing member operatively coupled to the actuating member andconfigured to bias the actuating member to move outward and allow thestopper biasing member to move the stopper upward into the closedposition.
 8. The lid of claim 7, wherein the actuating member biasingmember comprises a spring.
 9. The lid of claim 1, wherein the main bodyincludes a lower portion having threads disposed thereon configured forthreaded engagement with the drinking vessel.
 10. The lid of claim 1,wherein the main body includes an upper wall portion having the openingextending therethrough at a location adjacent to a laterally outwardedge portion of the upper wall portion, and the stopper has a baseportion and an elongated sealing member portion, the sealing memberportion projecting upward from the base portion at a location adjacentto a laterally outward edge portion of the base portion and having anupper end seal portion aligned with the opening, the lid furthercomprising a stopper seal disposed over the upper end seal portion,wherein the stopper seal is operative to engage the portion of upperwall portion of the main body and cover the opening when the stopper isin the closed position to provide a fluid-tight seal of the opening. 11.The lid of claim 1, wherein the stopper has a second cam follower spacedapart from the first cam follower and the actuating member has a secondcam surface spaced apart from the first cam surface, the second camsurface engaging the second cam follower of the stopper such that inwardmovement of the actuating member causes the first and second camsurfaces to simultaneously move the first and second cam followersdownward when the actuating member is moved inward by the user whichmoves the stopper to the opened position, and outward movement of theactuating member causes the first and second cam surfaces to permit thefirst and second cam followers to move upward which moves the stopper tothe closed position.
 12. The lid of claim 1, wherein the upper portionof the main body further comprises a vent opening, and wherein thestopper further comprises a vent opening engagement portion that engageswith a portion of the main body and covers the vent opening when thestopper is in the closed position, and is spaced apart from the ventopening when the stopper is in the opened position.
 13. The lid of claim1, wherein the stopper has a base portion and a sealing member portion,the first cam follower being attached to the base portion and extendingupwardly therefrom, the sealing member portion having a lower endportion attached to the base portion and extending upwardly therefrom,the sealing member portion having an upper end seal portion aligned withthe opening to seal the opening and prevent fluid passage therethroughwhen the stopper is in the closed position, and spaced apart from theopening to allow fluid passage therethrough when the stopper is in theopened position, the upwardly extending sealing member portion beingmoved linearly upward to position the upper end seal portion to seal theopening when the stopper is in the closed position, with the upper endseal portion moving upward with a linear motion when approaching theopening as the stopper moves toward the closed position, and theupwardly extending sealing member portion being moved linearly downwardto position the upper end seal portion spaced apart from the openingwhen the stopper is in the opened position, with the upper end sealportion moving downward with a linear motion when moving away from theopening as the stopper moves toward the opened position, withoutrotational movement of the upper end seal portion when moving upward ordownward.
 14. A lid for use with a drinking vessel containing a liquid,comprising: a main body selectively couplable to the drinking vessel,the main body including an upper portion having an opening configured topermit fluid passage therethrough when the lid is coupled to thedrinking vessel; a stopper coupled to the main body for linear upwardand downward operational movement and configured for linear verticaldisplacement between a closed position wherein the stopper engages aportion of the main body and covers the opening to prevent fluid passagetherethrough, and an opened position wherein the stopper is spaced apartfrom the portion of the main body to allow fluid passage through theopening, without rotational operational movement of the stopper, thestopper having first and second cam followers spaced apart from eachother; an actuating member movably coupled to the main body and slidablyengaged with the stopper, the actuating member being movable inward andoutward, and having first and second cam surfaces spaced apart from eachother, the first and second cam surfaces being arranged to directlyengage the first and second cam followers, respectively, of the stopperand apply downwardly directed operating forces to the first and secondcam followers of the stopper, without any intermediate forcetransmitting members or producing rotational movement of the stopperduring inward movement of the actuating member to cause the first andsecond cam surfaces to simultaneously move the first and second camfollowers downward and thereby linearly move the stopper to the openedposition, and being positioned such that during outward movement of theactuating member the first and second cam surfaces permit the first andsecond cam followers to move linearly upward which moves the stopper tothe closed position; and a dust cover movably coupled to the upperportion of the main body and selectively rotatable between a firstposition wherein the dust cover is disposed over the opening of the mainbody, and a second position wherein the dust cover is disposed over themain body at a position away from the opening, the dust cover comprisinga tongue configured to fit within a corresponding perimeter groovedisposed on an outer surface of the upper portion of the main body. 15.The lid of claim 14 wherein the stopper includes a stopper biasingspring coupled to the stopper and positioned to bias the stopper intothe closed position in response to outward movement of the actuatingmember.
 16. The lid of claim 14, wherein the main body includes a lowerportion having a coupling configured for selective engagement with thedrinking vessel.
 17. The lid of claim 14, wherein the actuating memberincludes a button disposed on a sidewall portion of the main body. 18.The lid of claim 14, wherein the stopper has a base portion and asealing member portion, the first and second cam followers beingattached to the base portion and extending upwardly therefrom, thesealing member portion having a lower end portion attached to the baseportion and extending upwardly therefrom, the sealing member portionhaving an upper end seal portion aligned with the opening to seal theopening and prevent fluid passage therethrough when the stopper is inthe closed position, and spaced apart from the opening to allow fluidpassage therethrough when the stopper is in the opened position, theupwardly extending sealing member portion being moved linearly upward toposition the upper end seal portion to seal the opening when the stopperis in the closed position, with the upper end seal portion moving upwardwith a linear motion when approaching the opening as the stopper movestoward the closed position, and the upwardly extending sealing memberportion being moved linearly downward to position the upper end sealportion spaced apart from the opening when the stopper is in the openedposition, with the upper end seal portion moving downward with a linearmotion when moving away from the opening as the stopper moves toward theopened position, without rotational movement of the upper end sealportion when moving upward or downward.
 19. A drinking vessel and lidassembly, comprising: a drinking vessel; and a lid comprising: a mainbody selectively couplable to the drinking vessel, the main bodyincluding an upper portion having an opening configured to permit fluidpassage therethrough when the lid is coupled to the drinking vessel; astopper coupled to the main body for linear upward and downwardoperational movement and configured for linear upward displacement intoa closed position wherein the stopper engages a portion of the main bodyand covers the opening to prevent fluid passage therethrough, and lineardownward displacement into an opened position wherein the stopper isspaced apart from the portion of the main body to allow fluid passagethrough the opening, without rotational operational movement of thestopper, the stopper having a first cam follower; an actuating membermovably coupled to the main body and slidably engaged with the stopper,the actuating member being movable inward and outward, and having afirst cam surface arranged to directly engage the first cam follower ofthe stopper and apply a downwardly directed operating force to the firstcam follower of the stopper, without any intermediate force transmittingmember or producing rotational movement of the stopper, during inwardmovement of the actuating member to cause the first cam surface to movethe first cam follower downward and thereby linearly move the stopper tothe opened position, and being positioned such that during outwardmovement of the actuating member the first cam surface permits the firstcam follower to move linearly upward which moves the stopper to theclosed position; and a dust cover movably coupled to the upper portionof the main body and selectively rotatable between a first positionwherein the dust cover is disposed over the opening of the main body,and a second position wherein the dust cover is disposed over the mainbody at a position away from the opening, the dust cover comprising atongue configured to fit within a corresponding perimeter groovedisposed on an outer surface of the upper portion of the main body. 20.The drinking vessel and lid assembly of claim 19, further comprising: astopper biasing member coupled to the stopper and arranged to bias thestopper toward the closed position as the actuating member movesoutward.
 21. The drinking vessel and lid assembly of claim 19, furthercomprising: an actuating member biasing member arranged to bias theactuating member outward.
 22. The lid of claim 19, wherein the stopperhas a base portion and a sealing member portion, the first cam followerbeing attached to the base portion and extending upwardly therefrom, thesealing member portion having a lower end portion attached to the baseportion and extending upwardly therefrom, the sealing member portionhaving an upper end seal portion aligned with the opening to seal theopening and prevent fluid passage therethrough when the stopper is inthe closed position, and spaced apart from the opening to allow fluidpassage therethrough when the stopper is in the opened position, theupwardly extending sealing member portion being moved linearly upward toposition the upper end seal portion to seal the opening when the stopperis in the closed position, with the upper end seal portion moving upwardwith a linear motion when approaching the opening as the stopper movestoward the closed position, and the upwardly extending sealing memberportion being moved linearly downward to position the upper end sealportion spaced apart from the opening when the stopper is in the openedposition, with the upper end seal portion moving downward with a linearmotion when moving away from the opening as the stopper moves toward theopened position, without rotational movement of the upper end sealportion when moving upward or downward.
 23. A lid for use with adrinking vessel containing a liquid, comprising: a main body selectivelycouplable to the drinking vessel, the main body including an upperportion having an opening configured to permit fluid passagetherethrough when the lid is coupled to the drinking vessel; a stoppercoupled to the main body for upward operational movement and for lineardownward operational movement, and configured for upward displacementinto a closed position wherein the stopper engages a portion of the mainbody and covers the opening to prevent fluid passage therethrough, andlinear downward displacement into an opened position wherein the stopperis spaced apart from the portion of the main body to allow fluid passagethrough the opening, without rotational operational movement of thestopper during the downward movement, the stopper having a first camfollower, the stopper having an interior hollow stopper region and adownwardly extending stopper wall defining a downwardly extending walledpassageway extending through the interior hollow stopper region; aretainer member extending through the passageway and removably securedto the main body to retain the stopper attached to the main body duringoperation of the stopper to control fluid passage through the opening;an actuating member movably coupled to the main body and slidablyengaged with the stopper, the actuating member being movable inward andoutward, and having a first cam surface arranged to directly engage thefirst cam follower of the stopper and apply a downwardly directedoperating force to the first cam follower of the stopper, without anyintermediate force transmitting member or producing rotational movementof the stopper, during inward movement of the actuating member to causethe first cam surface to move the first cam follower downward andthereby linearly move the stopper to the opened position, and beingpositioned such that during outward movement of the actuating member thefirst cam surface permits the first cam follower to move upward whichmoves the stopper to the closed position; a stopper biasing membercoupled to the stopper and arranged to bias the stopper toward theclosed position as the actuating member moves outward; and an actuatingmember biasing member arranged to bias the actuating member outward. 24.The lid of claim 23, further comprising: a button disposed at a sidewallportion of the main body, the button being coupled to the actuatingmember such that a user may press on the button to move the actuatingmember inward.
 25. The lid of claim 23, wherein the stopper biasingmember and the actuating member biasing member comprise springs.
 26. Thelid of claim 23, wherein the stopper has a base portion and a sealingmember portion, the first cam follower being attached to the baseportion and extending upwardly therefrom, the sealing member portionhaving a lower end portion attached to the base portion and extendingupwardly therefrom, the sealing member portion having an upper end sealportion aligned with the opening to seal the opening and prevent fluidpassage therethrough when the stopper is in the closed position, andspaced apart from the opening to allow fluid passage therethrough whenthe stopper is in the opened position, the upwardly extending sealingmember portion being moved linearly downward to position the upper endseal portion spaced apart from the opening when the stopper is in theopened position, with the upper end seal portion moving downward with alinear motion when moving away from the opening as the stopper movestoward the opened position, without rotational movement of the upper endseal portion when moving upward or downward.
 27. A lid for use with adrinking vessel containing a liquid, comprising: a main body selectivelycouplable to the drinking vessel, the main body including an upperportion having an opening configured to permit fluid passagetherethrough when the lid is coupled to the drinking vessel; a stoppercoupled to the main body for upward operational movement and for lineardownward operational movement, and configured for upward displacementinto a closed position wherein the stopper engages a portion of the mainbody and covers the opening to prevent fluid passage therethrough, andlinear downward displacement into an opened position wherein the stopperis spaced apart from the portion of the main body to allow fluid passagethrough the opening, without rotational operational movement of thestopper during the downward movement, the stopper having an engagementportion comprising one of a cam surface and a cam follower, the stopperhaving an interior hollow stopper region and a downwardly extendingstopper wall defining a downwardly extending walled passageway extendingthrough the interior hollow stopper region; a retainer member extendingthrough the passageway and removably secured to the main body to retainthe stopper attached to the main body during operation of the stopper tocontrol fluid passage through the opening; and an actuating membermovably coupled to the main body and slidably engaged with the stopper,the actuating member being movable inward and outward, and having anengagement portion comprising the other of the cam surface and the camfollower, the engagement portion of the actuating member arranged todirectly engage the engagement portion of the stopper and apply adownwardly directed operating force to the engagement portion of thestopper, without any intermediate force transmitting member or producingrotational movement of the stopper, during inward movement of theactuating member to cause the engagement portion of the actuating memberto move the engagement portion of the stopper downward and therebylinearly move the stopper to the opened position, and being positionedsuch that during outward movement of the actuating member the engagementportion of the actuating member permits the engagement portion of thestopper to move upward which moves the stopper to the closed position.28. The lid of claim 27, wherein the stopper has a base portion and asealing member portion, the engagement portion of the stopper beingattached to the base portion and extending upwardly therefrom, thesealing member portion having a lower end portion attached to the baseportion and extending upwardly therefrom, the sealing member portionhaving an upper end seal portion aligned with the opening to seal theopening and prevent fluid passage therethrough when the stopper is inthe closed position, and spaced apart from the opening to allow fluidpassage therethrough when the stopper is in the opened position, theupwardly extending sealing member portion being moved linearly downwardto position the upper end seal portion spaced apart from the openingwhen the stopper is in the opened position, with the upper end sealportion moving downward with a linear motion when moving away from theopening as the stopper moves toward the opened position, withoutrotational movement of the upper end seal portion when moving upward ordownward.
 29. A lid for use with a drinking vessel containing a liquid,comprising: a main body selectively couplable to the drinking vessel,the main body including an upper portion having an opening configured topermit fluid passage therethrough when the lid is coupled to thedrinking vessel; a stopper coupled to the main body for upwardoperational movement and for linear downward operational movement, andconfigured for upward displacement into a closed position wherein thestopper engages a portion of the main body and covers the opening toprevent fluid passage therethrough, and linear downward displacementinto an opened position wherein the stopper is spaced apart from theportion of the main body to allow fluid passage through the opening,without rotational operational movement of the stopper during thedownward movement, the stopper having an engagement portion, the stopperhaving an interior hollow stopper region and a downwardly extendingstopper wall defining a downwardly extending walled passageway extendingthrough the interior hollow stopper region; a retainer member extendingthrough the passageway and removably secured to the main body to retainthe stopper attached to the main body during operation of the stopper tocontrol fluid passage through the opening; and an actuating membermovably coupled to the main body and slidably engaged with the stopper,the actuating member being movable inward and outward, and having anengagement portion, the engagement portion of the actuating memberarranged to directly engage the engagement portion of the stopper andapply a downwardly directed operating force to the engagement portion ofthe stopper, without any intermediate force transmitting member orproducing rotational movement of the stopper, during inward movement ofthe actuating member to cause the stopper engagement portion of theactuating member to move the engagement portion of the stopper downwardand thereby linearly move the stopper to the opened position, and beingpositioned such that during outward movement of the actuating member theengagement portion of the actuating member permits the engagementportion of the stopper to move upward which moves the stopper to theclosed position.
 30. The lid of claim 29, wherein the stopper has a baseportion and a sealing member portion, the engagement portion of thestopper being attached to the base portion and extending upwardlytherefrom, the sealing member portion having a lower end portionattached to the base portion and extending upwardly therefrom, thesealing member portion having an upper end seal portion aligned with theopening to seal the opening and prevent fluid passage therethrough whenthe stopper is in the closed position, and spaced apart from the openingto allow fluid passage therethrough when the stopper is in the openedposition, the upwardly extending sealing member portion being movedlinearly downward to position the upper end seal portion spaced apartfrom the opening when the stopper is in the opened position, with theupper end seal portion moving downward with a linear motion when movingaway from the opening as the stopper moves toward the opened position,without rotational movement of the upper end seal portion when movingupward or downward.
 31. A lid for use with a drinking vessel containinga liquid, comprising: a main body selectively couplable to the drinkingvessel, the main body including an upper portion having an openingconfigured to permit fluid passage therethrough when the lid is coupledto the drinking vessel and a main body sidewall extending downward anddefining a hollow interior body region; a stopper movably coupled to themain body and positioned at least partially within and spanning acrossthe hollow interior body region, the stopper being configured for upwarddisplacement into a closed position wherein the stopper engages aportion of the main body and covers the opening to prevent fluid passagetherethrough, and downward displacement into an opened position whereinthe stopper is spaced apart from the portion of the main body to allowfluid passage through the opening, the stopper having a first camfollower, the stopper having an interior hollow stopper region and adownwardly extending stopper wall defining a downwardly extending walledpassageway extending through the interior hollow stopper region; aretainer member extending through the passageway and removably securedto the main body to retain the stopper attached to the main body duringoperation of the stopper to control fluid passage through the opening;an insulating member located within the interior hollow stopper regionand positioned to provide insulation between the interior of thedrinking vessel to which the lid is used and the exterior environment;and an actuating member movably coupled to the main body and slidablyengaged with the stopper, the actuating member being movable inward andoutward, and having a first cam surface, the first cam follower of thestopper being positioned to engage the first cam surface of theactuating member during inward movement of the actuating member to causethe first cam surface to move the first cam follower downward whichmoves the stopper to the opened position, and being positioned such thatduring outward movement of the actuating member the first cam surfacepermits the first cam follower to move upward which moves the stopper tothe closed position.
 32. The lid of claim 31, wherein the insulatingmember is comprised of a solid insulating material.
 33. The lid of claim32, wherein the solid insulating material is styrene.
 34. The lid ofclaim 31, wherein the interior hollow stopper region is laterallydefined by a stopper sidewall located adjacent to the main bodysidewall.
 35. The lid of claim 34, wherein the insulation member extendslaterally outward to adjacent the stopper sidewall.
 36. The lid of claim31, wherein the interior hollow stopper region and the insulating membertherein span across the hollow interior body region.
 37. The lid ofclaim 31, wherein the stopper wall is centrally located with thedownwardly extending walled passageway extending through a centralportion of the interior hollow stopper region.
 38. The lid of claim 37,wherein the insulating member is a ring of insulating material with acentral aperture through which the stopper wall extends.
 39. A lid foruse with a drinking vessel containing a liquid, comprising: a main bodyselectively couplable to the drinking vessel, the main body including anupper portion having an opening configured to permit fluid passagetherethrough when the lid is coupled to the drinking vessel and a mainbody sidewall extending downward and defining a hollow interior bodyregion; a stopper movably coupled to the main body and positioned atleast partially within and spanning across the hollow interior bodyregion, the stopper being configured for upward displacement into aclosed position wherein the stopper engages a portion of the main bodyand covers the opening to prevent fluid passage therethrough, anddownward displacement into an opened position wherein the stopper isspaced apart from the portion of the main body to allow fluid passagethrough the opening, the stopper having a first cam follower, thestopper having an insulated interior hollow stopper region with aninsulating valve greater than the insulating value of air, the stopperfurther having a downwardly extending stopper wall defining a downwardlyextending walled passageway extending through the interior hollowstopper region; a retainer member extending through the passageway andremovably secured to the main body to retain the stopper attached to themain body during operation of the stopper to control fluid passagethrough the opening; and an actuating member movably coupled to the mainbody and slidably engaged with the stopper, the actuating member beingmovable inward and outward, and having a first cam surface, the firstcam follower of the stopper being positioned to engage the first camsurface of the actuating member during inward movement of the actuatingmember to cause the first cam surface to move the first cam followerdownward which moves the stopper to the opened position, and beingpositioned such that during outward movement of the actuating member thefirst cam surface permits the first cam follower to move upward whichmoves the stopper to the closed position.